April 26, 2007

Kaufman Takes Home DiGiovanni MVP Award

Ann Arbor, Mich. - For the 25th straight year the Michigan Lacrosse Booster Club Awards Dinner was held at the Campus Inn tonight.  With over 120 in attendance, the coat and tie dinner featured the announcement of conference awards, the announcement of team awards, speeches by Michigan's four seniors: Evan Fox, Brad Ferriell, Matt Hudson and Ryan Kaufman plus senior film/video cameraman Jin Shi and the premier of the 2007 team video by 2005 graduate Mike O'Leary.

Senior goalie Ryan Kaufman (Olney, Md./Magruder) took home the Robert DiGiovanni Most Valuable Player Award.  Kaufman, a two year starter and a first-team All-CCLA selection this season, has earned a 9-3 record this season in 12 starts.  He has a .620 save percentage and a 7.75 goals against average.  A captain this season, last year Kaufman was honored as the team's defensive MVP.  Kaufman, who carries a 3.7 GPA, will also be honored this year as an Academic All-American and is in the running for All-American honors at goalie.

This year's Defensive Most Valuable Player Award went to senior defenseman Brad Ferriell (Cockeysville, Md./Dulaney).  A co-captain with Kaufman, Ferriell led a young, rebuilt defense that held 10 of 13 opponents to single digits this season.  Ferriell is a two year starter who earned significant playing time throughout his entire four year career.  He is on the All-CCLA First-Team this year, along with six other Wolverines.

The Offensive Most Valuable Player Award went to sophomore attackman Jared Blechman (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville).  Blechman, who became a starter several games into his freshman season, was second on the team in scoring this season with 22 goals and 17 assists so far.  Over the course of the past five games he has scored 21 points on 13 goals and 9 assists, leading to his selection as the 2007 CCLA Offensive Player of the Year.

The Rookie of the Year Award went to freshman defenseman Zach Mueller (Arlington, Va./Sidwell Friends).  Mueller, a walk-on, earned a spot in the defensive rotation after an outstanding fall.  He missed the start of the season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, but has played consistently since his return.  He is the only longstick on the team to score this year, with two goals on the season.

The Unsung Hero Award went to junior defensive midfielder Mike Shearman (Madison, N.J./Seton Hall Prep).  Shearman, a two year starter at his position, is the kind of player who does not get into the stat book very often but is always noticed by anyone watching the team play for physical style, energy and clearing ability.  He was honored as a First-Team All-CCLA defensive midfielder this year.

For the second straight year the Michigan Commitment/Citizenship Award went to junior attackman Doug Bell (Troy, Mich./Troy).  Bell, a reserve attackman with 4 goals and 2 assists this year, serves as the team's representative to the athletic department's Student Athlete Advisory Council.  He also coordinates team fundraising and community service projects.

Brad Ferriell earned his second award of the evening with the Leadership/Inspiration Award.  As a captain Ferriell has been instrumental in motivating the team through a long Fall practice season and throughout the ups and downs of the regular season.

Finally, the 2007 recipient of the Wesley Martus Scholar-Athlete Award was junior longstick midfielder Alex Martusiewicz (Troy, Mich./Troy).  Martu, as he is known to teammates and coaches, carries nearly a 3.8 GPA in the dual majors of Pre-Dentistry and Music.  For the second straight year he is the team's starting longstick midfielder.

Contact: Joe Hennessy (jjhennes@umich.edu) - 734-276-8493